Archive for March, 2010

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Art in The Spring Kitchen Garden … Wednesday What-Nots


2010
03.31

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Posted in Etsy, The Kitchen Garden, Wednesday What-Nots | 1 Comment »

The promised glimpse of the sun through the heavy cloud cover will be a welcomed sight this afternoon after several, yet again, dreary, rain-soaked days.  The eagerness I feel for a little warmth and the opportunity to “play” in the garden is pretty intense!

I’ve been working on my garden journal whenever I can sneak a few minutes.   That helps, but it pales in comparison to “the real thing” -  the therapeutic, thoroughly enjoyable, task of digging in the dirt and actually setting up the Spring Kitchen Garden.

A few weeks back, on an unusually mild March day, we brought home a rusty old anchor with attached chain that had washed up on the rock structure along the beach here.  It was quite heavy but I couldn’t pass it up, a fine piece of garden art!  It’s placement in the garden scheme is yet undecided, but I know it will find an appropriate home here among the other salvaged treasures I have “discovered” in my jaunts out and about.

The Etsy website is full of great discoveries in just about any genre you can think of.  Art for the garden is no exception.  While checking out some birdhouses the other day, I came across a number of great shops that specialize in garden-related goods to enhance and give the garden that added panache!

Alice from MyGardenGoddess (love that name!) has a professional background in the commercial sculpting industry and holds a BFA degree, with a major in Sculpture.  This training is evident in her work, a line of pieces that share her aesthetic and style for anyone looking to adorn their garden with something unique.

The creation of a terra cotta spiral sun design is strong with symbolism. The spirals are representative of evolution and the cycle of life. The emanating rays of the sun, alternating wavy and straight, signify heat and light. Together the spiral sun is symbolic of growth and change…….two attributes important for any garden.  Lovely!

sun

Self-dubbed a junk metal artist, Dwayne of DBulla believes that with the right “junk” and a little imagination, one can turn “Trash into Treasure”.  I completely agree!   Salvaging items destined for the landfill, he combines old world blacksmithing and new world welding in creating unique items for the home and garden from old tools and discarded metal.  He has a fun array of  critters, home decor and jewelry creations all created from “junk”.  Dwayne’s drill bit dragonfly is a great example – his listing of materials for this critter is “auger bit, ball bearing, cut nail, rust, steel.”  Gotta love it – and I do!

bug

  A fellow bird enthusiast like myself has found a way put a fresh, new, wonderful spin on bird feeders.  Not only that, Jenny from RedYellowAndBlueInk donates a portion of each of her bird feeder sales to the National Audubon Society or The Nature Conservancy.  Her unique bird feeders are made from recycled, upcycled, traffic signal lenses made of a thick durable plastic.  She utilized stainless steel cable, upcycled rubber washers, and various hardware to build the feeder pictured below . The “s” shaped hooks that connect the base and the roof are upcycled used brass chain.  I love the look of these unusual feeders and, judging from her photos and video, the birds love them too!  What’s not to like?  Very cool!!!

feeder

And what’s a garden without birds?  A sweet little ceramic bird created by Amanda of OrganicCeramic will never leave his nesting place!  Hand-sculpted of stoneware, the sunshine sparrow perches upon his own little swing. The little bird was painted with yellow slip before being finished with a custom honey glaze.  Copper feet were made from recycled house wiring that was stripped and cleaned. The feet will patina over time giving the bird an antique feel.  Whether you give the sweet little guy a home indoors or out in the garden, he will enchant!  When you’re browsing through Amanda’s shop, be sure to check out the “cream of bird” teapot, too.  Delightful in every detail! 

bird

As is done in interior spaces, using pieces of artwork in the garden are a way to personalize the space and give it a unique character.  Our gardens need style, too!  Haven’t you noticed how a garden takes on a personality, or so it would seem? 

For some, the garden is perfunctory.  A few bushes here, some marigolds there.  But for many, and the number is increasing, the garden is seen to be an extension of a person’s interior living spaces.  Much forethought is put into the planning of the space for both utilitarian and aesthetic purposes.  And so it should be! 

If you are looking for some additional ideas on ways to DIY adornment of your garden spaces, check out the book ”Garden Junk“, by Mary Randolph Carter, dubbed the “ultimate guide book for people who love old stuff, bargains, and the thrill of hunting for the perfect whatchamacallit you didn’t know you needed until you fell in love with it at a tag sale.”  The book is loaded with great photos….and ideas!

Three websites I’ll post before leaving for a lot of good garden decor inspiration ….. to peruse on the next rainy day.

http://www.easy-outdoor-decor.com/garden-art-from-trash.html

http://s91.photobucket.com/albums/k302/sangaree_KS/Garden%20Junk%20Inspiration%20Albums/For%20the%20BIRDS/

http://www.gardensandcrafts.com/gardenjunk.html

As always, I’d love to hear from you!   Have you any sources to share, or just want to join the dialogue?  What’s your favorite piece of garden art?  Jump on board….

feeder

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A Gardeners Journal … Wednesday What-Nots


2010
03.24

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Posted in On My Mind, The Kitchen Garden | No Comments »

Thought I’d change it up a bit today.   I am definitely in “Garden 2010 Configuration Mode”, and, as this is our first full springtime season in our lovely new house, we are planning and scheming as to what changes/additions we want to make to our small plot near the sea.  This morning we walked, anxious to be out on a pretty morn after yet another deluge of rain yesterday.  It was a good time to brainstorm and take a few pics.

morning walk

Other than redoing the front entranceway to the house (got some ideas/pics on our walk), we are also thinking about ways to privatize our little backyard a bit, make it more cozy …  nest-like, natch!

To add to the mix, it’s almost time to plant.  Time to dig out (no pun intended!) the gardening journal and do some planning.  Thought that I would tell you about my journal, as I am also planning to create a few blank gardening journals for my Etsy shop customers, and it’ll give you a sneak preview.  As usual, I’ve also got some resources to share.

My gardening journal has evolved over the years from rudimentary scribblings and sketches on a legal pad to a more refined (?), definitely better organized sourcebook for all things related to my garden.  As my experience, expertise (if you can call it that!), and enjoyment of the garden grew, so did my documentation of  it.  Each year, it’s like seeing an old friend again…

I use a looseleaf binder, which has been customized over time as the garden has grown and changed.  In it is a calendar, some graph paper, as well as a diagram of my existing vegetable garden, which consists of six cedar raised-bed boxes and multiple surrounding containers of various compositions.  There are pics of the plantings surrounding the house, source/resource pages, magazine images of ideas, and more.  Even a tide chart – to plan my forays to the beach to pick up stones and such.  An envelope contains seed packets, labelled with the year at the end of each season, stored away for reference, and replaced with one for the next growing season.

I use a blank calendar template from vertex42.com in a portrait orientation to record planting dates, reminders, even occasional notes re: the weather, and much more.  This website has an absolute wealth of Excel spreadsheets and templates on every subject from travel, to sports, personal finance, home inventory, and more. Very user-friendly, too.

In each of my raised planting boxes, I will supplement/amend the soil this spring with compost from last year, and rotate the plantings so as to make best use of the soil. I first learned about “crop rotation” in Eliot Coleman’s book, “The New Organic Grower“.  It’s a detailed chapter, but easy to follow and quite informative. The Yankee Gardener website gives some good basic info, too.  I equally enjoy and often use “The Organic Kitchen Garden“, as much for the great info and the fab photos. Gorgeous!

Another gardening book I recommend are “Carrots Love Tomatoes” and “Roses Love Garlic” – a book (originally two books, now combined into one) devoted to companion planting – plants that assist each other to grow well, plants that repel insects, and even plants that repel other plants. Very practical stuff, and fun to read. And I love “Trowel and Error” – tricks, tools, and shortcuts … over 700 of them!

My journal has a list of these, and other, reading references but also contact info for local garden centers and garden-related resources I’ve used over time or that have been recommended to me by friends and neighbors.

A few other garden journal tidbits to share, before I move on to the activities of the day…

In Walmart, I found a small (3 liter, only 10.5 inches tall) stainless steel step trash can that has a handled plastic liner. Great for under the sink to put the coffee grounds, veg/fruit trimmings, etc. for transport to the compost pile at a later moment. No odor, and just the right size. I use it constantly!

When I plant a new bush, flower or vegetable plant, I google the name of it and print out information on its features, care, growth habits, fertilizing and trimming needs, etc. The print-outs go in the journal alphabetically, and have been proven to be great reference tools for me.

More to come! I highly recommend some sort of journalling your gardening endeavors, whether organized or not. They are a great wintertime read, along with the seed catalogs, when the cold and drab just won’t quit. It’s also nice to see where you’ve “been” in the garden to better plan where you’re going!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post and will let me know what you include in your garden journal – looking for ideas to use in planning my Etsy journals, soon to be found in my Etsy shop.     Thanks for sharing!

 

 

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Who Is This Man in Green?


2010
03.19

Posted in On My Mind, The Joys of Nesting | 2 Comments »

Taking a moment to share …

Sometimes when things in life take their toll on a person’s overall, generally positive outlook on life and well-natured being, it’s nice to have inner resources that bring you back, lift the spirit, rekindle the flame. 

One of my main resources is the man you see pictured below, my Dad, ninety years strong.  Just a few days ago he took yet another fall, bruised and a bit battered but no break in the hip this time (see me smile!), but a crack in an arm bone.  It was his strong independent spirit that caused the fall, wanting to do something for himself he probably shouldn’t have.  Just a few days later, however, he was back to the Dad I know and so love, dressed in his St. Patrick’s Day finery for a corned beef and cabbage luncheon in his senior apartment complex.  When my sister-in-law and I helped him down to the community room in his chariot (wheelchair!), his elderly friends greeted him with aplomb, having missed the spirited, singing, happy man we all love so well.

Thanks, Dad, for always being the great guy you are.  You are simply the best!

I hope you all have someone or something to always revive your sense of well-being. 

dad

Have a great weekend!

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Wednesday What-Nots…The Emerging Spring Kitchen Garden


2010
03.17

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Posted in Etsy, On My Mind, The Kitchen Garden | No Comments »

Almost didn’t make it today – our phone, TV, and internet service was down.  Repairman due at 4PM, no show.  Didn’t miss the phone (had my cell but get limited service), sure didn’t miss the TV (who has time??), but DID miss access to the internet.  No email, no surfing, and I’m committed to this Wednesday post.  And I do take my commitments seriously…

The service eventually came back on, but the delay sure put a dent in my day.  And the day was a beauty, despite the aggravation.  It FELT like Spring, finally.  My thoughts kept straying to the garden, so I took a long meander through the yard, making mental notes as I went.  And, back inside, putting pen to paper – plans, re-dos, sketches. It’s time, I decided, to drag out the garden journal and get started.  (more on that in a next post)

It appears that some of my fellow Etsians have already gotten a headstart on the garden planning for 2010.  I’m anxious to share some of my findings with you….

RaDonna of  The Bear Foot Shaman is a Holistic Health Specialist who loves to garden and offers a wonderful assortment of  heirloom, medicinal, vegetable, and flower seeds in her Etsy shop.  In addition to information about the product itself, there are recipes and other bits of folklore and usage about the plant.  It’s a great read!  The photo of the Cherokee Purple Heirloom Tomato initially grabbed my attention, but it was the words “wonderful taste” in the description that hooked me!  Can’t you just almost taste it now????

tomatoSeven Acre Woods is a farm nestled in the hills of Eastern Kentucky that features handmade items, heirloom seeds from their gardens, and spinning fiber from the farm’s alpacas.  From egg gourds to lotus plants, there are some unusual offerings here.  As I’ve always been interested in making a chili pepper wreath, the vibrant color of the red cayenne chili pepper photo in the shop’s listings immediately caught my eye.  Even if I don’t get to the wreath, I’m sure they will be great in next winter’s chili!  And I think I might just HAVE to try those egg gourds…

il_430xN.129253686[1]All of the seeds from Frog Pond Gardens are certified naturally grown on the grounds of an 18th century home in Lexington, MA, where they maintain the gardens using natural methods that includes their own compost, fish emulsion, and integrated pest management with no pesticides. The selection of seed varieties here is quite inviting;  each seed packet includes detailed directions about how to grow successful plants.  On my “gotta have” list if the Christmas Lima Bean - an heirloom bean from the 1840s that has wonderful dry seeds with maroon swirls, and can be picked green for fresh lima beans or let dry for shelling.  Having had success with Scarlet Runner Beans this past season, I think these will be a nice new addition to my repertoire.  They’ll be the talk of the neighborhood!beansAfter making your seed selections and getting them planted, it’s important to remember what you plant, and where.  Kerrie from Wooden Hive can certainly help with that!  It’s hard to fathom that an emergency room nurse with a three-year old daughter can find time to create, but Kerrie does it with style! Among other items in her shop, she fashions Vintage Silverware Garden Markers ….. custom with any wording you want, hand-hammered onto a vintage piece of silverplated flatware.  I think they would make a great gift for a gardening friend but I would also definitely have to have some for myself!  Very nicely done!  Check out her similarly-styled cheese markers, too.        markers

Totally different and not Etsy related (but cute just the same!) are plant markers from Pamela Barsky that have been popular on my website for sometime.  These garden stakes put a humorous spin on labelling your plants!

kmarkersMore on the gardening scene over the next few days – please stop by, add a comment, and share a few of your gardening faves. Till next time, get growing! 

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Wednesday What-Nots…Feature Focus: The Home Office


2010
03.11

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Posted in Etsy, On My Mind, Wednesday What-Nots | 1 Comment »

Since I stopped “working” (at an office job, that is!), I’ve become very keenly aware of how important it is to have a well thought-out home office/studio space if:   1) you’re going to spend your weekday, workday ( and then some…)  hours in it, and, 2) you want your work to be productive and efficient at the same time.  If the space is attractive and comfortable as well, your work is so much more pleasant.  I feel lucky to have such a space. 

While my space is small, and, to some observers, cluttered, it works for me, and has been highly personalized to suit the way I like to work.  I’ve got my music, great sunlight and a view of the Long Island Sound – what’s not to like???

craftsitemusic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

desk

Thinking home office, I happened upon several products while cruising through some Etsy shops the other night.  They command a capital “P” for pizazz and a huge “E” for adding efficiency!  Here are my picks of the week:

Karen from BaffinBags designs and sews reversible organizers in a variety of great fabrics to organize a desktop or workspace, or any room in the home, for that matter.  I could see one of these organizers holding bills and correspondence, receipts, or craft items ready for quick use.  With a fine assortment of fabrics to choose from, there is a bin organizer basket to suit everyone’s taste or color scheme.  When you need a change, simply reverse the basket for a fresh look.  The fabric for the bin basket organizer shown below is called “Starling“. (naturally, for me, a bird motif!)

basket (2)

Dubbed a modern design solution from a shop called SimpleShapes is an innovative approach to a wall calendar, creatively constructed in vinyl.  This calendar wall design incorporates a white dry erase vinyl that you can write on,  and  is applied directly to the wall.  Use any dry erase marker to mark appointments, deadlines, etc.  You can even customize the color of the calendar to match your office color scheme.  The style shown below is  22 inches wide by 15 inches high;  a vinyl dry erase memo note pad is also available.  How very clever!

board

Guaranteed to bring a smile to your workday face is the Desktop Moodometer, a fun and creative product from reuseREDESIGN.  Fifteen glossy cardstock cards are housed in a mini-display case;  each card sports a funny quip to lighten the mood – for examples, “control alt delete IF ONLY LIFE WERE THAT SIMPLE” and “i’m un-stoppable EXCEPT FOR MAYBE LUNCH”.  Megan, the creative force behind the shop, also makes luggage tags, gift tags, wedding items and more – all unique, all fun.mood

 Don’t want to create your own to-do-lists, grocery lists and the like?  There’s a shop on Etsy that has done the work for you!  Carla, from CrownBindery, has constructed several varying sets of downloadable, printable sheets to organize the minutia of everyday life and office tasks.  The set dubbed “Home Management Principles” is a series of electronic files in a pdf format that you simply download, print out, and use as needed.  It includes such titles as Task Tracker, Expense Tracker, and Project List.  So easy, so functional … take a look at the other sets available, too.   Fab idea!

sheets

 Here are some additional resources to check out, now that you’ve got efficient, fun products to help you in your home office!

For the “how do I design a home office that works for me” angle, don’t miss:

  • the Flickr “Creative Workspaces” pool for a ton of ideas from photos of real workspaces
  • the ideabooks on the website houzz.com - and create your own home office ideabook from the photo ideas (roughly 30000 of them!)  on the site

When you’re ready to furnish the space, look into:

  • IKEA – functional, affordable solutions that can be configured to virtually any space and storage need.  (I have several IKEA pieces in my home office – one of my favorites is a work table which has adjustable legs – mine is set at counter height to make it comfortable to work at while crafting, packing items, etc.)
  • not quite as affordable, but fabulous to look at is Design Within Reach - great office solutions and more.

Definitely more utilitarian, but necessary, an article from Real Simple about record keeping.  And some interesting and fun stats about “The Office World” from Entrepreneur magazine.

I mean, work can’t be all fun and pretty stuff – I think that’s oxymoron-ish, but we might as well strive to make it as pleasant as we can – right?

As always, I hope you’ll take a minute to comment on my writing and let me know what YOU think, or offer suggestions, input, and other ideas to add to the conversation.  It helps the flow!            With wishes for a great Wednesday and weekend ahead!

 

 

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Wednesday What-Nots…Feature Focus: Fine Art Photos, Cool Photography Links


2010
03.03

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Posted in Etsy, Wednesday What-Nots | 2 Comments »

I was hanging some artwork this past weekend, in dire need of finding creative ways to ignore the dismal days of weather that have been lurking around.  In doing so,  I came across some photos I had framed a few years back that had been in an “as soon as I can get to it” pile.  It reminded me that changing around home decor accessories can really jazz up a space and give it some new life.  It worked!   A few nicely framed and matted photos brightened my walls and my spirits…

If you’re looking for some new sources of artwork to spruce up your “nest”, consider photos, hung alone or in groupings.  I did some “window shopping” on Etsy over the weekend and found some really wonderful fine art photo shops that I would love to share.  Might just be the lift you’re looking for.   Check out the amazing talent here.

Lena of LenaBrownDesigns is a self-taught photographer as well as a passionate knitter, spinner, and fiber artist from Grand Rapids, MI.  The photos in her shop deal mostly with nature and our surroundings, and are quite lovely.  Pictured below is a photo she took of  flowers in a Mother’s Day bouquet.  It is a stark, yet delicate floral photo that  really caught my eye, entitled “Stand Out”  … and it does!  Lena is running a 10 % special in her shop that makes a purchase even more alluring.

  stand out

Billy Currie hails from Stirlingshire, Scotland.  He has two passions – woodturning and photography, and is renowned and quite proficient in each.   What a range of expertise!  The photo I selected to high light in this post is entitled “Delicate Wings”, found in the “Artistic Photography” category of his shop, as it is available in five colors/styles.  The photo is of a butterfly, and the detail is remarkable.  Take a look, and then check his shop to see the processing styles he is offering on this image.

butterfly

It’s no secret that I’m a sucker for anything bird-related.  I’ve always enjoyed the capers of the little creatures.  Tracey from Raceytay  has captured a sweet little goldfinch in a setting of red buds from maple trees that is a delightful  burst of color.    Graphic design is Tracey’s background, but her passion for photography is quite evident in her work.  She is having a “March Madness” sale in her Etsy shop … not to be missed.

goldfinch

Another photo that wows! in the color department is in a shop called davita.  Jamie Mc Coy is a self-taught photographer and environmental artist from Erie, PA – she has a fine selection of photos in her shop and graciously offered a special promo to readers when I asked if I might highlight her shop in my blog this week.  (more on that in a sec…)  The photo that I chose to include here was one of many I loved – the “play” of the red and electric blue is amazing.  She has titled the image “Heaven is Decorated in Polka Dots”.

blue

Jamie’s offer, available through next Wednesday, March 10, is a “buy one print, get one half off” sale.  When you’ve made your selections  from her Etsy shop, simply put the word “nest” in the “Message To Sellers” at checkout and Jamie will take care of the rest!

As I’ve been doing since I started this Wednesday feature a few weeks ago ( and with thanks for your encouragement and kind words regarding it! ) I will give you the benefit of some research and/or personal experience about the week’s topic.  I am not a photographer in, really, any sense of the word, but thanks to my trusty digital camera I can at least come up with photos that do some justice to the items in my Etsy shop and on my website.  And I have found a few tools to help in the process, and some fun sites as well…

To adjust my photos (crop, enhance, size, etc.) I mostly use Paint Shop Photo Album 5 from Corel which I’ve had for some time.  (the newer version is out, natch, but I’m still happy with the one I have)  I do have Photoshop Elements 5 installed on my computer, but haven’t had sufficient time to play with it to feel confident.  I’m anxious to do so, and will!

I came across a Gorillapod (a flexible, easy to use tripod) a while back on Photojojo, a website devoted to the very best photo tips, DIY projects, and gear.  It’s a fun site, loaded with tons of  ideas.  (The Gorillapod is great!)

Two sites that are cool for creating official postage stamps utilizing your own photos are zazzle and photo.stamps.com.  What a great way to advertise your work  (promotion, promotion!) or celebrate a special occasion or person in your life such as a new baby or an upcoming wedding, perhaps.

One last site to share before I close, and I use this one a lot, is picfont, a site where you can add text or comments to a picture in about ten seconds – it’s just FUN!

thanksnest

I look forward to your comments and hope you’ll subscribe to my blog by either adding your email address to the left sidebar or by clicking on your favorite reader, also to the left.                               Have a great Wednesday!